Prospect of Whitby c. 1890.

Repro ID: H5432

Description: The famous riverside tavern The Prospect of Whitby', on Wapping Wall, dates back to 1520 and was once a notorious den of smugglers and thieves. It was originally known as the Devil's Tavern. Pepys was a regular visitor here and meetings of the Ancient Society of Pepys are still held here. In 1777 the name was changed to the present one after a ship named the 'Prospect', which was registered at Whitby, moored off the tavern and became a landmark. Dickens was a regular customer, as were the artists Whistler and Turner. The ship was lost at sea in 1795. This photograph, taken in about 1890, shows the Prospect when it served the maritime community of Shadwell and Wapping. The tavern was accessible directly from the river at low tide.

Creator: Unknown

Date: c. 1890

Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London